Shelle Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 I'm really worried about one of my ex-bats, Pringle. She hasn't been herself for a couple of days, still eating and drinking but very quiet and mostly keeping herself to herself. Last night she didn't take herself to bed as usual and I found her behind a tree with a soft egg that she'd laid (it had no shell at all). Earlier this evening she was sick (clear, almost water like fluid) and she's taken herself to bed much earlier than usual (my other 2 girls are still running around quite happily) Also I've noticed that her feathers haven't grown back as well as the other girls have and they look much more scruffy than they used to. Am I right to be so concerned ? I've only had the girls about 2 months and this is the 1st time any of them has seemed poorly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 Could be sour crop? Tip her up and get some more of the fluid out. Then give her some bicarbonate of soda. Someone with experience of this will be on in a minute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 I think i would bring her inside in a box if i were you,with some food and water. Chickens are really good at hiding being ill. She probably needs to see a vet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelle Posted June 10, 2010 Author Share Posted June 10, 2010 Thanks for your advice. It's so reassuring to know there will be someone on here who is able and willing to help and offer advice, especially when this is all so new to me still ! It does appear to be sour crop. I picked her up to check her over first thing this morning and her crop was a bit swollen and squishy. I managed to get some fluid out of her so hopefully that will help her to feel a bit better. I'm at work now but already bursting to get home and try to give her some bicarbonate of soda and probiotic yoghurt (couldn't this morning as none in the house) to see if that also makes a difference. Hopefully with a bit of tlc she'll be back to herself very soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 Good luck Shelle. As Hippy chick says chickens are great at hiding illness. So if she doesn't seem better consider a trip to a vet. If you can try to find one that actually knows about chickens - few seem to. Hope she feels better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 As chickens don't have a gag reflex (can't be sick) I suspect that her crop contents have fermented and are leaking out of her mouth. Please be very careful if you are draining the fluid, partly because it stinks, but also because they can easily aspirate it and drown. Add ACV and Avipro to the water and feed her Bokashi Bran in live yoghurt. If she doesn't improve in 24 hours, then take her to the vet. The aim is to keep the contents of the crop and gut slightly acidic, so bicarb isn't a good idea; instead make sure to use some ACV in the water 3 times a week. Some of the liquid poultry tonic (like Life-Guard and NetTex) contain probiotics, so would be helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 fingers crossed for Pringle x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelle Posted June 10, 2010 Author Share Posted June 10, 2010 thanks again for all your comments and advice. when I got home from work today Pringle seemed a little more perky. She followed me around the garden, albeit a little slowly and was chatting away to me, probably telling me off for tipping her up this morning. I gave her some yoghurty mash so hoping that will do something to make her feel better. She's taken herself off to bed early again - will just have to wait and see how she is in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 Fingers crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 Hope she has a good night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted June 11, 2010 Share Posted June 11, 2010 How is Pringle today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelle Posted June 12, 2010 Author Share Posted June 12, 2010 Good News ! Pringle is back to her usual self again . She's got her energy back and she just looks so much better. I'm so relieved !!! I think it was the pro biotic yoghurt that did it. I didn't attempt to get any more fluid out of her after the 1st try. Apart from checking on her constantly the yoghurt is the only thing I really did differently. I had been feeding it to them occasionally but I will be sure to give it to them a bit more often now, along with some ACV when I get my hands on some. Thanks all for your advice and good wishes. I'm very grateful !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 Glad she is better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 oh that's good. Its so nice to hear happy endings for a change. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
